435 Helmcken St

This house is among some of the last remaining houses that made up a larger working-class neighbourhood that developed between 1890 and 1910 near the Yaletown rail yards and warehouses. In 1907, five identical houses were built by Wellington W. Brehaut on this part of Helmcken Street, three of which remain at 431-439.

Expanding industry around False Creek attracted manufacturing, warehouses and other services to this area. From the 1920s and onward many houses were replaced. Those that remained were converted to offices, apartments and rooming houses.

This residence is a good example of modest 1½ storey, middle class, Edwardian–era housing once common in the area. Over time (but particularly after the 1960s) almost all of the housing in the Downtown South neighbourhood was demolished to make way for other development. The remaining houses therefore are valued as rare examples of the area’s early residential development.

Source

City of Vancouver, City of Vancouver Heritage Plaque

More information

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100622/documents/phea1.pdf